New Zealand police say nine officially listed as missing after volcano eruption

 

A note of condolence is seen at a memorial at the harbour in Whakatane, following the White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand, December 11, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Nine people have been officially listed as missing after the eruption of a volcano on New Zealand’s White Island, police said on Wednesday, seven of them Australians and two New Zealanders.

 

“This is not a complete list of the missing as we have been unable to speak with all next of kin involved,” the police added in their statement.

 

The death toll from Monday’s eruption stands at six and 30 injured.

 

The police said there was a definitive list of people in hospital whose names could not be released due to privacy reasons. Nine people who were not in hospital and had not been discharged were listed officially as missing.

 

The nine are Gavin Dallow, Jessica Richards, Krystal Browitt, Richard Elzer, Zoe Hosking, Karla Matthews and Julie Richards, all from Australia, and New Zealanders Tipene Maangi and Hayden Inman.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-11

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Losing loved ones is never easy and worst over the holidays when families get together. Let's hope they are found safe and sound.

13 hours ago, sirineou said:

Losing loved ones is never easy and worst over the holidays when families get together. Let's hope they are found safe and sound.

That is a nice thought, but reality will unfortunately be different. Very sad for the families.

On 12/11/2019 at 11:56 PM, sirineou said:

Losing loved ones is never easy and worst over the holidays when families get together. Let's hope they are found safe and sound.

They are missing as in didn't escape from the island, and were dead. As of today, according to google 6 bodies recovered and 2 still on the island.

1 person was found in a hospital that they didn't know about.

Many questions will be asked about the police role in stopping helicopter going back when conditions were acceptable to do so. The cop in charge was removed by the minister, as he was making a hash of it.

RIP.

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

They are missing as in didn't escape from the island, and were dead. As of today, according to google 6 bodies recovered and 2 still on the island.

1 person was found in a hospital that they didn't know about.

Many questions will be asked about the police role in stopping helicopter going back when conditions were acceptable to do so. The cop in charge was removed by the minister, as he was making a hash of it.

RIP.

Yes indeed RIP,

The hope is that as you said they are on a hospital some place an accounted for, or were traveling and they themselves don't know they are missing to alert the authorities that indeed they are not missing. So there is still a  small hope that hope  diminishes as the days advance.

1 minute ago, sirineou said:

Yes indeed RIP,

The hope is that as you said they are on a hospital some place an accounted for, or were traveling and they themselves don't know they are missing to alert the authorities that indeed they are not missing. So there is still a  small hope that hope  diminishes as the days advance.

I think they are known to be dead, but the bodies couldn't be recovered yet. The operation to recover the bodies was hampered by the protective gear the authorities insisted they wear, which slowed it down. Perhaps they just ran out of daylight, or volcanic activity increased.

Spare a thought for the survivors as burns are horrific. As a nurse I am aware of just how difficult it must be for them now and in the future. Hopefully most people will never find that out for themselves.

 

15 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I think they are known to be dead, but the bodies couldn't be recovered yet. The operation to recover the bodies was hampered by the protective gear the authorities insisted they wear, which slowed it down. Perhaps they just ran out of daylight, or volcanic activity increased.

Spare a thought for the survivors as burns are horrific. As a nurse I am aware of just how difficult it must be for them now and in the future. Hopefully most people will never find that out for themselves.

 

I hope you are wrong, but I am afraid you are right.

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

They are missing as in didn't escape from the island, and were dead. As of today, according to google 6 bodies recovered and 2 still on the island.

1 person was found in a hospital that they didn't know about.

Many questions will be asked about the police role in stopping helicopter going back when conditions were acceptable to do so. The cop in charge was removed by the minister, as he was making a hash of it.

RIP.

The police role is ensuring that the next stage is safe. 

Its all very well for chopper pilots (with vetoed interest of family members) to be spouting off that they would have gone back the next day. Thats great if you are chasing people alive but when confirmed its bodies you are recovering then the err is on side of not killing more.